Shadowfax - Oil Painting

A horse of Rohan, the chief of the Mearas. Like the other mearas, Shadowfax was a grey or silver stallion and could understand the speech of Men. No one except Gandalf could ride Shadowfax, and he was given to Gandalf by King Théoden. His name means Shadow-mane (Old Norse fax meaning "mane"). Yes, of course I'm a Lord of the Rings fan.

Marc Alexander

I live with my wife and four children in the beautiful Cape Town, South Africa.

After a sojourn in charity work and helping street waifs, I re-embarked on a fulltime career as an artist and freelance gallery curator.

My interest in art started when as a young child, I discovered an ability to replicate on canvas with accuracy what I saw in nature. I have been doing commissions ever since. In December 1995 I started a seven year career at the Pretoria Art Museum and within two weeks began a reproduction of a 17th Century Dutch Master’s painting. Since that time I have made near perfect replicas of some great pieces. It was also during this time that I started a work amongst orphans and vulnerable street children, using art as a medium for healing. This turned into a very successful not-for-profit organization called ‘The Tshwane Art Kids’ which brought healing and restoration to many African children.

I work mostly in oils in the style of the traditional realist, but I also enjoy combining the art of gilding and texturing in my paintings. I prefer to paint recognizable objects or elements that can be observed in nature and I aim always to capture express subjects and themes about our world and the human condition, especially those things that cause us great joy or great sorrow.

It has been said that, in the past few years, I have caused a sensation in the art world, especially with my large portraits of Nelson Mandela. According to the late Alf Kumalo – one of South Africa’s most famous photojournalist and personal friend of Nelson Mandela, “Alexander’s portraits are so lifelike and expressive, they have captured Mandela’s essence perfectly”.

Portraits and Wildlife make up the greatest part of my body of work, however, I enjoy exploring different themes and subject matter. Please feel free to visit my Website at www.marcalexanderart.com